Sanitary drinking attachment for cans



Nov. 9, 1954 R. M. STAFFORD SANITARY DRINKING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS Filed 001;. 30, 1950 u I I I s 20 w/ I l I I ll v Fig. 4 Richard M. Stafford INVENTOR.

United States Patent O SANITARY DRINKING ATTACHMENT FORCANS Richard M; Stafford, Cahiwem N. J. Application October so, 1950, Serial No. 192,909 lClaim. or. 69-13 The present invention relates to a novel and improved article of manufacture which takes the form of a so-- called attachment for beer cans and the like and which functions to assist one in drinking directly from the can.

It is a matter of common knowledge that canned beer has met with nationwide acceptance and favor. For the most part, cans having flat tops and bottoms are used, and cans in this category are opened through the medium of a well-known opener commonly referred to as a can punch. Using a can punch, a substantially triangular pouring hole is punctured in an end of the can adjacent to the usual end attaching seam or bead. At picnics and similar outings, it is not at all uncommon to find persons drinking directly from a can, perhaps be- 62115186 a glass, cup or other receptacle is not readily availa e.

Since the above is now a recognized and commonly employed practice, many persons have advocated the use of disposable sanitary shields, guards and equivalent attachments to assist those who resort to direct-from-thecan drinking. Attachments in this field are many and varied in style and form, and although many attempts have been made to solve the problem in an acceptable manner, it still remains to be aptly solved. It is the obvious purpose of the instant invention to bring about a satisfactory solution of the problem through the medium in; a simple, inexpensive and easy-to-use attachment-type Another object of the invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon prior art drinking attachments and, in so doing, to provide one in which manufacturers, retailers and users will find their anticipated requirements and needs fully met and satisfactorily available.

Briefly summarized, the invention has to do with a semi-circular lid of appropriate disposable stock, the same having a marginal applying and retaining flange. Being semi-circular, the lid may be readily rotated from a usable drinking position to a second hole covering position. A drinking hole is provided, and this registers with the pouring hole in the can in the first-named position. Also, a tongue is struck out from one edge and this serves as a hold-down detent and assists in holding the lid on the can and also in either one of its two principal open and closed positions.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views: 1

Figure l is an enlarged view of a beer can or similar commodity container showing the improved drinking attachment, its construction and mode of attachment and use;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the can with a hole punched therein and with the drinking attachment in an out-of-use position;

Figure 3 is a view based on Figure 1 showing the attachment in its in use position; and

Figure 4 is a central section taken on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings, the beer can, which is a conventionaltype with flat top and bottom heads, is denoted by the numeral 6. One end is denoted at 8 and this is the end which is adapted to be punctured. At this end, we find Ice the" usual seam or head 10: IngFigureZ, the head or end 8 is shown with a triangularor V-shapedpou'ring:

comprises a substantially semi-circular flat body portion 16. The overall attachmentds made of moisture-proof cardboard, commercial plastics, or suitable throw-away stock. The inner edge-portion is straight across, as'at 18. The remaining marginal-semicircular edge ispro vided with an inturned flange 20 whose lip portion 22 is sufliciently toed in or canted to come into embracing contact with the wall of the can body. This thus-formed flange coacts with the body and bead and assists in satisfactorily retaining the lid in its applied position. It also allows the lid to be turned in the direction of the arrow A whereby it may be shifted from an out-of-use position (Fig. 2) to a position in which it is in use (Fig. 3). The off-center marginal portion of the body portion has a triangular drinking opening 24 therein which is adapted to register with the pouring hole 12 in an obvious manner. The straight edged portion is provided mid-way of its ends with a struck-out tongue 26 which is preferably struck out along the converging lines of cleavage 28 and 30. This tongue provides a hold-down finger tab and is adapted to be bent and pressed down as shown in Figure 4 to contact the end of the can and assist in holding the drinking lid in a drinking position.

The lid may be most easily applied by slipping it over the end of the can parallel to said end; that is, by sliding said lid at right angles to the vertical axis of the can. It may be just as easily slid off again by reversing the procedure. Since the straight edge 18 coincides with the diametral center line when the lid is on, it will be evident that only the canted or toed-in flange 20 is the essential lid retaining means. The fact remains, however, that inasmuch as the semi-circular shape makes for easy sliding of the lid into place, it also is a disadvantage in that the lid may also slide and fall off accidentally. Therefore, it is necessary to hold the lid in its drinking position by hand. It follows that the hold-down tab 26 now comes into play. By this is meant that best results are had by wrapping the hand around the can, much, in the usual fashion, and then stretching the index finger over the head of the can and placing the tip atop the tab and, in this manner, the pressure of the tab against the can prevents the lid from either turning or otherwise becoming accidentally displaced while drinking. Not only this, by releasing finger pressure on the tab and pressing theafinger tip against either edge 28 or 30, the lid can be rotated and shifted either right or left just enough to disalign the holes 24 and 12 and to thus temporarily cover the hole 12 to keep out dust or dirt during the interim of not drinking. It follows that a lid which is semi-circular slides on and off without hindrance and when on can be held by a simple suitably centered finger pressed hold-down tab.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A readily applicable and removable sanitary drinking attachment for the puncturable end of a beer can or the like comprising a flat semi-circular lid of disposable material provided around its curvate marginal edge with a semi-annular lateral flange, said flange being canted inwardly so that the free edge portion of the flange underlies the coacting peripheral portion of the lid, said lid being provided adjacent the median portion of said flange with a drinking hole, the intermediate straight edged portion of said lid being provided with converging slits opening through said straight edged portion, said slits defining an intervening hold-down tab, the latter being adapted to be forcibly pressed and thus bent against the end of the can, whereby to enable the user to keep the lid from accidentally shifting out of its drinking position.

'References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 406,951 Perkins July 16, 1889 553,836 Bruun Feb. 4, 1896 940,204 Simpson Nov. 16, 1909 1,149,445 Holmes Aug. 10, 1915 Number Number Name Date Reynolds Nov. 23, 1915 Hill Feb. 27, 1917 McPherson Aug. 5, 1924 Hernandez Nov. 11, 1924 Gebhard Sept. 25, 1934 Ballard Oct. 5, 1937 Smith Sept. 13, 1938 Bjork Aug. 17, 1943 Barnes Nov. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 26, 1904 Great Britain Mar. 14, 1905 France July 2. 1934 

